The Washington critic., 1887-02-28

hlly eIecteu ~ tne frccumans bank Ino
square In which II Ia erected IL a historic
one. On the same street, at the east corner,
stands Riggs, Bank, which was built for tho
aec9mm9dation Of the Washington branch
OF the old United States Bank. The greater
part Of II IL now occupied by the clerks Of
tho Surgeon. Generals ONCE. Around the
corner 70 tho west is the CommissaryGen
Club House, In front Of which philip barton
Key was shot by Sckles. The tree, under
Thielh the dead! dead mans Y, body lsy, e still
pletSly removed by. relic hunters. At the
northwest corner OF the square, above the
Commissary. Generals Ofllco, Is tho house
is9ns By the Sf Tommo
lived and rcigned so long a social Queen
after her husbands term as President OK
The Washington Monument.
Immediately south Of the White House stands
structure erected by man, and the mostim-
posing obellsk ever constructed. IL Is b55
feet above Its base, which Is ~ feet aboye
4, 1913, and the cap.stone, forming the apex,
was placed In position December d, 1891. In
II are 1s1 blocks Of inserted stones or cop
% ba om ntS SprSas rosi % M aSsr an s9
900. 1t Is situated in what will ultimately
be beautiful park.
The Naval Observatory.
To the West OF the Washington Monument.
on tho highest elevation that borders the
north bank Of the river. between st. Eliza
teth,s Heights and Georgetown College,
stands the Naval Observatory. The hill on
which 1t stands IL famous for having boon
the camping ground OF Washington brad.
dock and the latier's army, when on their
march TO the fatal field, where the English
General fell Victim TO his self'conoeit aud
Ms fhe decisive battic Ground between cen The Tho
District Indians and the mysterious Susqne
hannas. This observatory contains the
largest iciracting telescope in the world,
next to the new equatorial Just built for tlls
Lick Observatory BY Its aid that most in
teresting, II not greatest, astronomical dis
covery of the country was made, the moons
OF Mars. The entrance to tho observatory
Is at = and Twenty third streets northwest.
The Herdic cabs go to Twenty-second and
q streets.
The Agricultural Department.
This building Is situated east of the Monu-
ment. IL Is enclosed by the most beautiful
and glowing flower garden in the country
and the grounds contain the most complete
Arboretum probably in the United States.
Attached 70 this Department are the Ex-
perimentul Gardens; whose Offices are i'm
medintely west of the main building. Tho
Belt Line cars go right past the grounds.
The smithsonian.
Across Twelfth street, Immediately east from
the. Agricultural Department, are. tho
nian Grounds. The former Is q specimen of
the most graceful architecture In the city,
and the latter form tho most beautiful
landscape. garden In the country. These
grounds OF themselves are worth a visit to
Washington to SEQ. They contain the
memorial urn to the artist who designed
bronze statue of Professor Henry. the first
secretary Of the institution. The latter Is
at the northwest corner of the building; tho
Downing Urn is In the centre Of the grounds,
two hundred yards north of the cast wing.
The Smithsonian Is filled with tho most
varied and interesting objects connected
with science. II Is reached by the seventh
Street, the Ninth Street and the Belt Line
OF street cars.
The National Museum.
The National Museum Is in the Smithsonian
grounds, few yards cast of the Smithso-
nian building; 1t contains thousands of the
life, customs and history of all nations. It,
as well as the Smithsonian, Is open daily to
the public from a. IN. to 4 p. m.
The Botanical Gardens.
Passing eastward from tho Museum, over
the railroad bridge that spans Sixth street,
and through the pretty park lying between
Maine and Missouri avenues. the visitor
comes to the entrance on Third street, just
south OF Pennsylvania avenue. of the Bo-
tanical Gardens. These interesting grounds
are open daily from o In the morning to
In the evening. They were established
30 years ago.. The conservatories are filed
with the choicest and rarest foreign plants.
Around the gardens arc extensive collec.
tions OF trees and shrubs. In the centre OF
the lawn facing the centre conservatory Is
the famous Bartholdi Fountain that at
tracted so much attention at the Philadel-
phia Centennial.
The Peace Monument.
| Just half way across the Avenue from tho
northeast angle of the Botanical Garden.
And at the west foot of the Capitol Grounds
Is the Peace Monument. This was de
signed BY Admiral Porter in honor Of the
dead soldiers and sailors of the late war.
IT Is of marble and cost, with PEDESTAL and
platform $4,000. 1t Is proposed to remove
this monument to ono Of the squares on the
northwest section.
Retracing our steps we lini
The Printing ana Engraving Isureau
| The great money mill OF the Government Is
located at the corner of Fourteenth and b
street southwest, southeast from the Monu.
ment and southwest from the Agriculture
Bureau. II Is reached by the Belt Line
Cars, and is opened to visitors every day.
Davy burns Cottage.
| One Of the curiosities OF Washington is old
Davy Burns Cottage, on Seventeenth street,
drive south of the Presidents House or by
the Metropolitan or Avenue line of cars.
| Next door to u Is General Van Ness once
bride, Marcia Burns, one Of the Original
| heiresses Of Washington.
| COrcOran Art Gallery.
Tho Corcoran Art Gallery is at the corner Of
| Pennsylvania avenue and Seventeenth
street, opposite the War, Navy and State
days and saturdays y free; @ on other days lex
cept sundays q small admission fee Is
charged, This gallery, although not to be
compared with the great Old W9rld D. gal.
stitution for so new a country as the United
States. 1t contains among other original
objects Powers great statue Of the Greek
The Louise Home.
The Louise Home is a beautiful building at
the corner of Massachusetts avenue and
Fifteenth street, near Scott Circle. 1t has
and Is. a unique establishment. It Is a
memorial to the wife and daughter OF Mr.
W. W. Corcoran. and is intended as homt
for ladies Of education, birth, and refine
from affluence.
The Columbian University.
Coming down Fifteenth street from the Louise
Home, at the corner of Fifteenth and i
streets, the visitor sees the Columbian UNI
yersity, which occupies the site Of the old
cOrporated as Columbian College In 1871
and is under the special supervision OF the
Baptist Church. II is an institution famous
forthe discipline and thoroughness of It's
The weather Bureau.
The Signal Service, or Weather Bureau, Z:
about one hundred yards west of the state
| War and Navy Departments, on street. II
| Is one OF tne must Interesting piuceS "
Washington to visit. The observers II
| charge, when at leisure, always take
pleasure In showing visitors how the!
| "manufacture weather."
The EOstofiice Department..
The General Postoflice Department Is on thu
square bounded by Il, Il, Seventh anc
Eighth streets. II. Is handsome building
although lis proximity to its larger ant
bolder brother, the Patent Ohice, some
what obscures Its great size and tends Il
lessen its beauty, Its different bureau
possess great interest to the visitor, but tht
| bead Letter Oflice Is particularly the one L
| be observed. The collection of curositie
taken from the mails In transit, as specl
mems of the uses TO which the Nations pos
| tai eonyeyances are put, is both varied ant
| unque Everything unavailable, from an In